How does the host-slash-cabbie ask trivia questions and drive safely at the same time?

The premise of "Cash Cab" is simple, and fairly entertaining. On-the-move city-dwellers get into a taxi - apparently with the initial purpose of getting somewhere - then find out they're on "Cash Cab."

Correct answers can accumulate money for the riders. Miss three questions and they're dropped off right where they are.

This program falls into the "reality-game-show" genre. It's more fun that a straight-ahead reality show (that is, it's interesting) and it's better than a run-of-the-mill game show (the contestants aren't always idiots).

This combination of transportation and trivia could become the next "hot" direction in TV programming: transportation trivia.

Around the bend, expect shows like "Trivia Bus," "Rickshaw Riches" and "Millionaireplane."

The permutations are staggering.

Of course, the longer the ride lasts, the more watered-down it will become. TV viewers around my ripe age know this.

We know how even something lame can become even lamer. We saw "Brady Bunch" slide down the slippery Astroturf slope to "Brady Brides."

We know what to expect. After the "fun" part eventually fades, it's back to reality. It's downhill from there, as the charm of a game-show on wheels takes flight but then crashes to the ground as it turns the corner into "Celebrity Space Shuttle."

The reality is, there's still the reality, and that part will depart again, finding another niche that has nothing to do with travel.

It will de-niche and re-niche, sprawling into other aspects of reality.

Then someone will steer the game-show part back into the equation. Within a decade, the craze might extend to every area of life, wherein it will become impossible to venture out into the real world without the chance of becoming a reality show contestant.

Everyday people become thrust into a chance to answer questions to win cash prizes - while they're just living!

Tune in to see "Car Wash Coin," trivia-meets-auto-cleanliness; surprise game shows at church ("Daily Bread"); and Q&A's at the bakery ("Dough Nuts").

Go to the laundromat, put some coins in the washer, and you might hear the attendant say, "Hi, you're on 'Money Laundering'"!

And finally, "Cash Cab." On-the-move city-dwellers get into a taxi, and ...

This is a round trip.

Dennis Volkert is features editor at the Sturgis Journal. E-mail him at volkert@sturgisjournal.com.